Laura Whitmore on Ant and Dec, Adele and BRIT Award after parties
By Giulia Macgarr: ITV News
TV presenter Laura Whitmore spoke to ITV News about a BRIT Awards night that featured "best-ever" performances and a string of star-studded after-parties.
How did you find last night, are you feeling a bit ropey today?
It was great, and yes [to feeling ropey]! I really enjoyed it, it's my fifth year and I loved it. It's absolute mayhem - Ant and Dec were brilliant, especially loved Ant in his dress, who knew?!
The performances were the strongest ever. Rihanna and Drake, I was thinking, do they realise we were watching them? Pre-show and after-show were crazy as you never know what's going to happen. I can't remember what happened really.
Fave moment from last night?
Opening and closing the Brits is always so important. The confetti from Coldplay was brilliant - an hour or so later people still had it in their hair which I loved.
Adele picked up four awards - I'm quite star struck by her, I said a quick hello and she seemed lovely, her performance was just her and that's pretty amazing. She doesn't need anyone else, or any background help.
How was the after party in general?
I do the backstage show so Ricky and I didn't leave the venue until midnight but Ant and Dec had warmed it up. It was amazing, but there are always about 10 after-parties to choose from which makes it hard - I ended up going to the one that most of my friends were at.
Any gossip from the after party?
I couldn't possibly reveal! There was just dancing, no dirty dancing, just dancing. Diplo was DJ-ing and Mark Ronson too and it was just really, really good fun.
Everyone was having a good time, that's the thing about the Brits. It's not an awards ceremony where you have to sit up straight and look professional, but you can just enjoy yourself. Ant and Dec were saying the same thing and I think that's why they love presenting it so much.
Fave performance of the evening?
I think I'm gonna have to go with Adele, just because it was quite emotional. But I actually really liked James Bay which was pretty unexpected.
Thoughts on Ant and Dec and this being their last time presenting?
I know, it's a shame, but in all fairness it's not like I don't see them, and you never know, they could come back!
They were great this year, and last year, but I always say that it would be great to go and just watch the Brits for a change. I don't know, I'm not saying I don't want to work at it, but I think it would be quite nice to just go and relax and enjoy it for once.
Bowie tribute by Gary Oldman - was it emotional to witness?
We were just by the stage and it was lovely to hear that beautiful speech with David's band and Lorde - for every musician he is such an inspiration, I remember my mum listening to him and he's always had a presence in my life.
What about grime, do you think it should have had more entries, was there a noticeable lack of that type of music on the night?
I didn't notice really, it wasn't something for me that I was aware of. Everyone who was nominated deserved to be nominated.
Final thoughts on this years Brits?
There was a lovely range of performances... and they were all very different this year. No Madonna fall moment, thankfully! It was definitely one of my favourites.